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Balanced international roster set for Futures Game

Balanced international roster set for Futures Game

MLB.com analyst Jonathan Mayo takes a look at the World roster for the 2012 All-Star Futures Game

By Jonathan Mayo
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MLB.com |

The 14th annual Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game is less than a week away, so it's time to get prepared for the Sunday afternoon who's who of Minor League prospects.

The Futures Game can be seen live on MLB.com, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD and followed live on MLB.com's Gameday on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET. In addition, XM Radio will broadcast play-by-play coverage of the event live on MLB Network Radio XM 89. MLB.com will also provide complete coverage before, during and after the game. Fans can stay updated by following @MLBFutures on Twitter and can send/receive tweets to/from the U.S. and World team dugouts during the game by following @USDugout and @WorldDugout.

Major League Baseball, along with the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau, MLB.com, Baseball America and the 30 Major League baseball clubs, selected the 25-man rosters. George Brett will manage the U.S. Team, with Bernie Williams manning the World Team dugout.

Here's a closer look at the players. Here is the World Team.

PITCHERS

Lisalverto Bonilla, Phillies (PHI: 12)
Once a starter, now a reliever, Bonilla has started to move quickly, earning a promotion to Double-A and striking out 12 1/2 per nine innings through June.

Jose Fernandez, Marlins (Top 100: 94; MIA: 3)
After 14 dominant South Atlantic League starts, the Marlins' top Draft pick from 2011 (No. 14 overall) earned a bump up to the Florida State League. With a plus fastball and slider and developing changeup, he has the chance to be a No. 2-type starter.

Kyle Lotzkar, Reds (CIN: 18)
Finally healthy, the Canadian is showing why he was a sandwich-round pick back in 2007, using his fastball-breaking ball combination to earn an early promotion and to strike out 10 1/2 per nine innings.

Ariel Pena, Angels (LAA: 15)
Pena replaced Edwar Cabrera of the Rockies, who got called up. However, Pena deserves a spot on his own, ending June fourth in the Texas League in both ERA and strikeouts.

Chris Reed, Dodgers (LAD: 4)
Reed was a closer at Stanford, but the Dodgers sent him out as a starter. So far, so good, as the lefty got a bump up to Double-A and had recorded a strikeout per inning and a .190 opponents' average through June.

Filipe Rivero, Rays (TB: 16)
The young lefty has made a smooth transition to full-season ball, standing fourth in the Midwest League in ERA through June. Rivero has a good mix of high-ceiling stuff and pitchabiilty at a young age.

Julio Rodriguez, Phillies (PHI: 15)
Rodriguez has pitched well at every level, nearly winning the organizational pitching triple crown in 2011. He's continued to excel at Double-A, using average stuff across the board to stand third in strikeouts through June.

Enny Romero, Rays (TB: 8)
Armed with a plus fastball and developing secondary stuff, Romero has backed up a strong 2011 full-season debut by pitching well in the Florida State League, with the eighth-lowest ERA in the circuit after three months.

Bruce Rondon, Tigers (DET: 5)
Rondon has always thrown hard, hitting triple digits as a closer type. Command has been an issue, but that's been much improved in 2012. He's second in the Minors in saves, has struck out 11.9 per nine and earned a promotion to Double-A.

Yordano Ventura, Royals (KC: 9)
Ventura's another World Team arm who can light up a radar gun. Some think he might be a reliever down the road, but he led the Carolina League in strikeouts and was fifth in ERA through June.

CATCHERS

Christian Bethancourt, Braves (Top 100: 78; ATL: 4)
Bethancourt had an encouraging 2011, then a very strong Arizona Fall League. He hasn't hit as well in Double-A, but continues to impress with his athleticism and plus arm behind the plate.

Ali Solis, Padres
Solis replaced Yasmani Grandal on the roster, but he should be used to that. Filling in for the injured Jason Hagerty this year, Solis has hit over .300 with the most playing time he's received in his career.

INFIELDERS

Jesus Aguilar, Indians (CLE: 20)
Aguilar has followed up a breakout 2011 with a strong '12 campaign thus far in the Carolina League, sitting among the league leaders in average and slugging percentage. He has legitimate raw power to tap into.

Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox (Top 100: 65; BOS: 2)
Many think Bogaerts will eventually outgrow shortstop, but he's played nothing else so far in Boston's system. Regardless of where he plays, the bat that's already providing power and run production will play anywhere.

Wilmer Flores, Mets (NYM: 6)
Flores was a Futures Gamer back in 2009 at age 17, then took a while to push his way out of A ball. He looks like he's figuring things out, moving to Double-A this past month and turning his potential into performance.

Francisco Lindor, Indians (Top 100: 26; CLE: 1)
The No. 8 overall pick in the 2011 Draft, Lindor has more than held his own in the Midwest League, being named an All-Star as a teenager, showing an ability to hit for average, steal bases and play an excellent shortstop.

Chih-Fang Pan, A's
Originally a shortstop, Pan has settled in nicely as a second-base prospect. He's shown a knack for making contact and hitting for average. Pan has good speed and can play a solid second base to boot.

Jurickson Profar, Rangers (Top 100: 4; TEX: 1)
A Futures Gamer a year ago, Profar has responded to the challenge of a double-jump to Double-A by making the Texas League All-Star team. He's continued to hit for average, run well, play a strong shortstop and the power is starting to come as well.

Carlos Sanchez, White Sox
Sanchez just turned 20, but that hasn't stopped the switch-hitter from being among the league leaders in average in the Carolina League. He can play both second and shortstop and could develop into a top-of-the-order-type hitter.

Jean Segura, Angels (Top 100: 46; LAA: 1)
Segura has shaken off an injury-interrupted 2011 season to settle in as one of the best shortstop prospects in the game. He can hit for average and power and is a major basestealing threat.

OUTFIELDERS

Oswaldo Arcia, Twins (MIN: 4)
While elbow surgery interrupted his 2011, Arcia still showed plenty with the bat. That's continued in 2012, as he hit his way out of the Florida State League and up to Double-A in mid-June.

Jae-Hoon Ha, Cubs
Ha has tools aplenty, from playing a plus center field to showing a knack for hitting, with some surprising pop. He has great speed, though he's still learning to use it on the basepaths.

Rymer Liriano, Padres (Top 100: 50; SD: 2)
The toolsy and athletic Liriano can hit for average and power, and he ontinues to be a basestealing threat. Liriano hit well enough in the California League to earn a promotion to Double-A.

Alfredo Marte, Diamondbacks
Marte has enjoyed a breakout season in the Southern League, leading it in slugging percentage and ranking among the leaders in homers and RBIs. He also was the Southern League All-Star Game MVP.

Oscar Taveras, Cardinals (Top 100: 86; STL: 3)
Taveras has made the double-jump to Double-A look simple, making it easy to forget he just turned 20. He's in the top three in the Texas League in the triple crown categories and had three hits in the league's All-Star Game.

Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLB.com and writes a blog, B3. Follow @JonathanMayoB3 on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.